'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Dolph Ziggler and Nikki BellaDolph Ziggler is someone who has everything to succeed in the business. He is an excellent in-ring performer and has great looks to go with it. If he polishes up his microphone skills, Ziggler is a main event level player for sure. However, WWE for some reason still has him in the mid card. Despite the lack of a proper main event push, Ziggler still has a major fan following.The Showoff will be celebrating his birthday today and there wouldn’t be a better timing to look deep into his life and career. With that said, here is a look at some of the facts about the birthday boy that you probably did not know.
#5 Ziggler dated Amy Shumer and Nikki Bella
Amy Shumer recently broke the internet with her Star Wars Themed photoshoot for GQ. It was viral stuff from the comedian and managed to capture the eyes of many people on the Internet. And guess what, Dolph Ziggler once dated her. Ziggler and Shumer were in an open relationship sometime back but eventually decided to break up.
Ziggler then had a relationship with Nikki Bella. The Nikki-Ziggler relationship was all over the wresting community and you would have probably stumbled upon some photos of these two every now and then. The show off is currently single (apparently) and hasn’t been linked with any other girls even though he is having an on-screen relationship with Lana.
#4 Ziggler is a standup comedian
While we know all about Ziggler’s talents in the wrestling ring, most of us are not aware about his spare time hobby of being a stand-up comedian. Ziggler has already held numerous shows and has a good reputation in the area. His first show came back in June 2013 at Los Angeles and Ziggler then went on to collaborate with some television writers so that he could improve his lines.
Ziggler is pretty serious when it comes to Stand-up comedy and might take it as a career path if he quits professional wrestling. Else, he would keep it as a good retirement plan just like Mick Foley did.
#3 The secret behind his name
The real name of Ziggler is Nick Nemeth. He wrestled under his original name in OVW and later modified it to Nicky when he joined the Spirit Squad. When WWE called him back to main roster after the Spirit Squad spell, Nick needed a name and he went to his friends for advice. One of his friends came up with the name ‘Ziggler’ and someone Nick liked it.
He stuck with it and chose the first part of his name from his family. ‘Dolph’ was the name of his great grandfather and he joined them together to produce his ring name. The success of the name is still up for debate as once Mick Foley said that Ziggler will have a tough time succeeding with a name like this.
#2 Before the Spirit Squad
Most of the fans out there have a misconception that Dolph Ziggler’s WWE debut happened when he was part of the Spirit Squad. However, it had happened earlier when WWE paired him up with Chavo Guerrero. Chavo was having a golfer gimmick named ‘Kerwin White’ back then and Ziggler was introduced as Chavo’s caddy.
He had a tag team match alongside Chavo on Sunday Night Heat against Shelton Benjamin and Matt Striker. It was a disastrous gimmick altogether and Chavo dropped the gimmick after Eddie Guerrero’s death. As a result, Ziggler was sent back to WWE’s developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling for the time being.
#1 Ziggler outclassed a future UFC star and a future Olympian
Before going into professional wrestling, Ziggler tried his hand in amateur wrestling. He attended the St. Edwards High School in Lakewood and was a major name in the wrestling team there. His wrestling team went on to win National Championships on two separate occasions. Two of the most notable names from that team were Gray Maynard and Andy Hrovat.
Gray chose a career in UFC while Hrovat went on to become an Olympic wrestler. Although these two talented wrestlers were there, Ziggler still holds the record for most number of pins in the school with a career total of 82. He went on to have success in the college level as well before jumping ship to the professional wrestling business.
